The United States has called on India to use its longstanding ties with Russia to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The US State Department highlighted India's unique position in influencing Russia during a briefing on Monday.

US State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller stated that India's historical relationship with Russia places it in a unique position to encourage President Vladimir Putin to halt the conflict. “India has a longstanding relationship with Russia. I think that’s well-known. And we have encouraged India to utilise that relationship with Russia, that longstanding relationship and the unique position that they have, to urge President Putin to end his illegal war and to find a just peace, a lasting peace to this conflict; to tell Putin to respect the UN Charter, to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Miller said.

Miller emphasized that the US will continue to press the Indian government, which it considers a key partner in dealing with Russia, to take a proactive role in seeking an end to the war. His comments came shortly after similar remarks he made on July 9, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia.

During his visit, PM Modi met with President Putin and emphasized that the resolution to the Ukraine conflict lies in peace talks, not on the battlefield. He expressed sorrow over the tragic death of children in Kyiv after a Russian missile strike on a hospital, which claimed 37 lives.

However, India has refrained from condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine. Following PM Modi's visit to Moscow, India abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution demanding that Russia immediately cease its aggression and withdraw its military from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. India was among 60 countries that chose to abstain from the vote, which called for Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized PM Modi's visit to Russia, expressing disappointment and calling it a setback to peace efforts. “It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” Zelenskyy remarked.

In response, India has reportedly conveyed its displeasure at Zelenskyy’s comments to the Ukrainian mission in New Delhi.

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